Category: Press Releases

PYN, Paz Ahora, and ISM attempt to break the blockade by sending a 50,000 Euro medical convoy into Gaza.

February 6, 2008

For Immediate Release

[RAMALLAH] The Palestinian Youth Network (PYN), together with the Spanish Paz Ahora Association, and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in Spain will deliver 50,000 euros worth of medicine to United Nations-operated clinics in Gaza’s eight refugee camps.

A delegation in which participates Julio Rodriguez, President of Paz Ahora Association, and Saif Abukeshek, General Coordinator of the Palestinian Youth Network will head to Cairo on Thursday, February 7, where they will meet with United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) representatives and purchase the medicines identified as most needed by the UNRWA clinics in Gaza. They will try to cross to Gaza, through the Rafah border with Egypt on Saturday, February 9.

“Civil societies around the world must not tolerate the injustice in Palestine, what is happening in Gaza are war crimes and collective punishment. We will continue to support the Palestinian people.” said Julio Rodriguez, President of Paz Ahora Association.

Israel’s hermetic closure on the Gaza Strip is denying 1.5 million Palestinians food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel and electricity, slowly killing the people of Gaza. According to the Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, 90 patients have died since June 2007 as a direct result of Israel’s siege, which denied them access to medical treatment. 107 classes of basic medicines are depleted from Gaza Strip and 97 sorts of medicines are on the verge of depletion. According to the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, “Gaza is on the threshold of becoming the first territory to be intentionally reduced to a state of abject destitution, with the knowledge, acquiescence and–some would say–encouragement of the international community,”

“What is happening in Gaza is the new Nakba (Catastrophe). The silence from the international community is outrageous, but Palestinian youth around the world refuse to be part of this silence. We are organizing to support the survival of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, as we continue our effort to end Israel’s oppression and systematic denial of the basic rights of our people,” said Saif AbuKeshek, General Coordinator of the PYN.

Contact:

For Arabic and English: Saif Abukeshek (Mobile: +34.678.129.102)

For Spanish: Julio Rodriguez (Mobile: +34.629.053.731)

Email: media@pal-youth.org

Threats and harrasment in Azzoun continue; Israeli army commander posts notice that he will “shoot to kill” rock-throwing youths

For Immediate Release

Lat night the Israeli army commander in the West Bank town of Azzoun posted photocopies of hand written death threats to town residents in various locations around Azzoun, as witnessed by a South Korean Human Rights Worker (HRW). In the note, the commander, identifying himself as Captain Joe, threatens to use live fire to kill the children who throw stones at the Israeli armored jeeps and Armored Personnel Carriers when they invade the village.

Abdullah Judi, an Azzoun resident, states “they come in most days, often positioning their jeeps near schools to provoke the stone throwers. They fire a lot of rubber bullets, tear gas, sound bombs and live ammunition. Sometimes they arrest some children, sometimes not.”

Below is a literal translation of the note into English:

Orders for the Azzoun Village

We order for all the people in Azzoun to stop throwing stones and molotovs and if you don’t stop this thing we will invade the village.

Captain Joe is coming to the village

He will start to shoot the fire to kill the people and to arrest the children and to close the stores and this is a final decision and if you don’t stop this thing you will collect your results

“this is the last warning”

“Captain Joe”

A fax copy of the orders, or the original orders themselves are also available upon request.

The author of the note ‘Captain Joe’ has verbally boasted many times over the last month to Palestinians and International Human Rights Workers of his willingness to kill, and how he has just come back from Gaza.

Recently, on Wed 16th January, he repeated these claims to a Canadian and an Australian HRW. Felicity Ryder, from Melbourne Australia, quotes Captain Joe as saying “‘I swear to God, don’t fuck with me. Tell these ‘poor’ people that the next time a kid throws stones at the road, the next time we enter this village, it will end in killing. Believe me.’

He then went on to ‘take credit’ for wounding Mohammed Faisel Sleem and Othman Mohamed Radwan on January 4th. The details of those shootings, along with a video, is available here:

https://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2008/01/06/israeli-army-invade-azzoun-again-shoot-boy-lying-defenceless-on-the-floor/

Watch for the shots at 3 minutes 10 seconds and 3 min 25 seconds. The other youth, Othman Mohamed Radwan, was also lying defenseless on the ground when he was shot in the leg when on the same day. Medical reports are available verifying the two boys were shot with live fire.

On Thursday 17th January Captain Joe repeated his threats to residents of nearby Izbat At Tabib. Musa Assad Hamed Tabib, a local resident, told HRWs that “they (the army) came in at about 1am, making approximately 70% of the villagers come outside. The leader called himself Captain Joe and was pointing his gun at the boys heads as he told them he would kill them if they threw stones”

For More Information

Jack Kazinsky (ISM Media Office – English) – 02 2971824
Abdullah Judi (Azzoun Resident – Arabic/English) – 0599649926

*Two Videos* Soldiers “moon” activists, fire on shepherds, CPT in the south Hebron hills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Israeli Soldiers Bare All In South Hebron Hills

01-19-08

Video: For a video of Israeli soldiers “mooning” Palestinian shepherds and international volunteers:

Raw footage is available by request

Israeli Soldiers Bare All In South Hebron Hills: Soldiers Expose themselves to Palestinian Shepherds as Part of Ongoing Harassment

Friday, January 12, soldiers from the Israeli Army displayed their buttocks in an exhibition known colloquially as “mooning” to a Palestinian shepherd and two international volunteers from Christian Peacemaker Teams. The incident was insult to injury as it occurred immediately after settlers from the illegal Israeli settlement outpost of Havat Ma’on, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, pushed the shepherd and his flock off the land.

A shepherd from the Palestinian village of Tuba in the South Hebron Hills was grazing his flock in fields several hundred meters south of Havat Ma’on, an illegal Israeli outpost, when settlers from the outpost approached in a white car. Settlers from the outpost are well known in the area for their attacks on both local Palestinian shepherds and farmers and on Palestinian children walking to school. More settlers arrived, along with a jeep of Israeli soldiers, causing the shepherd to move back to a safer location. The soldiers informed the international volunteers accompanying the shepherd that the shepherd was not permitted to graze on the land, despite the fact that the outpost is illegal and the Israeli Army itself had previously issued a demolition order for Havat Ma’on. That order has never been carried out.

Despite the fact that the shepherd moved farther down the valley, the soldiers and a settler security guard followed him. Not content at having pushed the shepherd back, before leaving, two soldiers dropped their pants and displayed their buttocks to the shepherd and the international volunteers in a lewd, insulting manner.

The incident was part of ongoing harassment in the area of Palestinian shepherds by Israeli settlers and security forces. The following day, settlers from the outpost fired six shots at the shepherds. (see shooting release) The police did not respond to that incident. The day after the shooting, Sunday January 14, settlers armed with clubs came at the shepherds to once again push them off the land. On Monday January 15, Israeli soldiers threatened shepherds with arrest. Their efforts are part of an ongoing process of illegal settlement expansion in the area.

For more information, contact CPT-Tuwani at 0542531323

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Christian Peacemaker Teams Releases Video of Settlers Firing on Palestinian Shepherds in South Hebron Hills

01-13-08

Raw footage for editing available from Christian Peacemaker Teams/Operation Dove by request only

Christian Peacemaker Teams Releases Video of Settlers Firing on Palestinian Shepherds in South Hebron Hills

Late Saturday morning, settlers from the illegal Havat Ma’on outpost fired six shots at shepherds grazing their sheep in a nearby valley. There were no injuries as the shepherds and international volunteers with them quickly moved to lower ground.

The incident was part of ongoing problems in the area as shepherds from the nearby villages of Tuba and Maghaer al Abeed have attempted to graze their sheep in valleys to the south of the outpost. The recent problems began on Friday, when settlers called soldiers to force the shepherds off of land to the south of the outpost that they hope to take control of. The outpost is undergoing consistent expansion. Soldiers arrived and told international volunteers from Christian Peacemaker Teams and Operation Dove that the shepherds must stay off the land.

Saturday morning, the shepherds returned to the land to graze, despite the previous day’s intimidation. Five settlers were seen walking through the nearby village of Mufagara on their way to Khoruba valley, south of the Havat Ma’on outpost. The five settlers were joined by another settler from the outpost at which time they pointed towards the shepherds in the valley, accompanied by international volunteers, as well as to internationals nearby monitoring. At that point, they fired on the shepherds in the valley and ran back into the outpost. In all, six shots were fired.

Police were called by the volunteers accompanying the shepherds. They briefly came to the outpost, immediately turning around. They were called again and replied that they, “had better things to do.” For more information about ongoing harassment in the South Hebron Hills, contact Christian Peacemaker Teams/Operation Dove at 0542531323.

Israel’s “Relief”:

Fuel Cuts of Up to 81%
New Electricity Cuts Beginning
February 7

Monday, January 28, 2008: After more than a week of near-total ban on fuel supplies, Israel said yesterday that it would resume permitting Gaza residents to purchase fuel – but would limit the amount they could buy by as much as 81% and would cut the electricity supplied directly to Gaza beginning February 7.

The state made the announcement in advance of yesterday’s hearing in Israel’s Supreme Court, as part of its response to a court petition filed by 10 Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups challenging punitive cuts in fuel and electricity supplies to Gaza residents. The court has yet to issue a decision.

After almost totally blocking fuel supply last week, Israel through the State Attorney’s Office told the court it would resume permitting Gaza residents to purchase diesel, petrol (gasoline) and industrial diesel but would only allow them a small percentage of what they need. The State Attorney’s office also told the court that it would reduce the electricity that Israel’s Electric Company sells directly to Gaza by 5% on three lines (a total of 1.5 MW), beginning February 7.

At the hearing, the human rights groups, represented by Gisha and Adalah, asked for an order preventing the state from restricting supply. The rights groups claim that the fuel and electricity cuts constitute illegal collective punishment.

The shortage of industrial diesel has crippled the functioning of Gaza’s power plant, whose reserves ran out on Jan. 5. Since then, the plant reduced production and even shut down for two days. Currently, the power plant is producing 45 MW electricity – instead of the 80 MW it could produce, were it allowed enough industrial diesel.

Gaza currently has an electricity deficit of 24%, and rolling blackouts across the Strip are as long as 12 hours per day in some areas. The electricity shortage has increased the dependence on diesel-powered generators – just as Israel cut diesel supplies. Without electricity and without diesel for back-up generators, Gaza’s sewage treatment pumps and treatment plants are pumping as much as 40 million liters untreated sewage into the sea each day, and clean water supply has fallen by 30%. Hospitals have reduced services and denied care to non-urgent cases, as the power outages continue, and their fuel supplies run dangerously low.

According to Gisha’s Director, Sari Bashi: “Israel’s ‘relief’ is just further punishment. Israel continues to deny Gaza residents the fuel and electricity they need to power hospitals, pump sewage, access clean water, and heat their homes. Israel has a right to defend itself against Qassam rocket fire targeting its civilians. But further cuts to Gaza’s electricity, as Israel plans, will only make more innocent people suffer.”

Facts about Israel’s fuel cuts to Gaza:

Israel began instituting fuel cuts to Gaza on October 28, 2007, as part of a governmental decision calling for punitive measures against Gaza’s 1.5 million residents. The new levels of fuel announced yesterday are significantly lower than the quantities being purchased by Gaza residents prior to the Oct. 28, 2007 cuts – and significantly lower than what they need now.

Before the cuts, Gaza residents were ordering approximately 1.4 million liters ordinary diesel per week – yesterday the state announced it would allow only 800,000 liters/week – a reduction of 43%. This is particularly detrimental, because the rolling power outages have increased dependency on diesel-powered generators.

Before the cuts, Gaza residents were ordering approximately 350,000-400,000 liters petrol (gasoline) per week – yesterday Israel announced it would allow only 75,400 liters per week – a reduction of 78%-81%.

Israel also announced it would allow Gaza residents to purchase 2.2 million liters industrial diesel/week, needed for Gaza’s power plant, but the plant now needs 3.5 million liters/week plus at least 2 million additional liters to replenish reserves.

Gaza needs 240 MW electricity in the current peak winter season. Israel supplies (before the planned cut) 120 MW, Egypt supplies 17 MW, and Gaza’s power plant is currently producing only 45 MW – meaning that there is a deficit of 58 MW, or 24% – even before the February 7 cuts are scheduled to take place.

The organizations who have petitioned the court are:
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel
Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement
HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
Al –Haq
Mezan Center for Human Rights

Student murdered by Israeli army, Palestinian activist Mousa Abu Maria wounded

On January 25th, an 18 year old youth was shot and killed in the village of Beit Ummar in retaliation for the recent attack on settlers in Kfar Etzion.

The army entered the village around 11:30am, a day after two men from the village were killed after stabbing three settlers in Kfar Etzion. The army served demolition orders to the homes of the dead men but the houses were not destroyed. The army shot off tear gas, sound grenades, rubber-coated steel bullets and live bullets at villagers. People responded by throwing stones at the heavily armored jeeps.

The army fired tear gas inside the homes of one of the dead men, and ordered the women of the houses to leave, physically assaulting some of them, and using them as human shields in front of their jeeps. Some of the women were consequently wounded by stones. At least three people were arrested, and five injured, one person was hit in the neck with live ammunition.

The army left around noon and came back around one, they entered the homes of the dead men again and shot live and rubber-coated steel ammunition as well as tear gas and sound grenades at groups of villagers. Israeli army snipers were moving between the houses and around 1:30pm an 18 year old youth was killed.

Mahmoud Awwad was a student in his final year of High School when he was shot in the torso with a live bullet and taken by the Palestinian Red Crescent to Al Ahli hospital in Hebron. An hour later the hospital confirmed he had died.

Residents of the village took the dead man to the cemetery around 4:30pm. The funeral march had around 4-5000 attendants, and blocked highway 60 on its return. The army fired on the mourners to disperse the funeral procession, continuing afterwards to shoot tear gas inside the village. One car of settlers hit two of the mourners during the procession, one of them is still in serious condition.

At the end of the day a man laid dead, at least 10 people were injured, some in critical condition. One of the injured was Palestinian activist Mousa Abu Maria, co-founder of the Palestine Solidarity Project.

There is a demonstration planned in Beit Ummar tomorrow,
for more information contact:
Yousef (arabic): 0522307672
Yonatan (Hebrew, english): 0543338046